Match Stats

Mika’s The Man – Double For New Striker Gets Him Off The Mark

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A double from new signing Mikael Mandron, including a last-minute penalty, either side of a long-range strike from Owen Dale gave Crewe Alexandra the victory in their opening EFL Trophy group game against Bolton Wanderers at the University of Bolton Stadium last night, despite goals from Ryan Delaney and former Alex striker Shaun Miller.

Manager David Artell make 5 changes from Saturday’s defeat against Lincoln City in the Carabao Cup with Travis Johnson and new signing Omar Beckles coming into the defence, both Josh Lundstram and Callum Ainley came into the midfield with Offrande Zanzala starting on the left of the front 3 (Beckles, Lundstram and Zanzala all making their Alex debuts) – Charlie Kirk, Ollie Lancashire and Luke Murphy all dropped down to the bench while Perry Ng was not involved at all. Miller started on the bench for the hosts.

The opening chance of the game saw Lundstram bring an easy save out of Billy Crellin on 9 minutes before the visitors took the lead 7 minutes later with Mandron heading home a free-kick from Ainley. We almost doubled the lead just before the break but for a decent save from the Trotters’ number one to deny Dale from close range.

Bolton levelled 8 minutes after the break with Ali Crawford’s cross headed down by Eoin Doyle for defender Delaney to score from close range. The Alex took the lead on 65 minutes with Dale getting into space outside the penalty area before firing a shot into the top corner.

We were denied on 73 minutes with Dale and Ainley both having efforts blocked before the most obvious thing happened, a goal from a former Alex player, as Miller curled the ball past Richards a minute later. The winner came a minute from time with Mandron sending Crellin the wrong way with the penalty after Dale was brought down.

The next games for the Alex sees the league season kick-off on Saturday with a home game against Charlton Athletic before a trip to Hull City the following Saturday.

What can we take out of this game?

Well, £10,000 of prize money for starters that will certainly help the finances, especially within the current climate.

On the pitch, it was good to see the three players make their debuts, including home-grown Lundstram, with all 3 looking alright tonight. It shows that we have some depth to the squad if we get injuries and suspensions to the first-choice players. Hopefully, we’ll see a few of the players who have missed the opening two games (obviously Jaaskelainen will be back in the fold after international duty) through knocks as we start the most important competition that we are involved in on Saturday.

Bolton Wanderers
2 – 3
Crewe Alexandra

University of Bolton Stadium

EFL Trophy

8/09/2020 7:00 pm

Attendance: 0

Referee: Anthony Backhouse

Bolton Wanderers Crewe Alexandra
Delaney, Miller Mandron (2), Dale
Crellin Richards
Brockbank Johnson
Taft Sass-Davies
Delaney
 
Beckles
Hickman 76 Pickering
White 66 Lundstram 80
Crawford Wintle
Gordon Ainley
Sarcevic Dale
Doyle Mandron
Delfouneso 66 Zanzala 65

Substitutes

Alexander Booth
Jones 76 Nolan
Comley 66 Kirk 65
Darcy Finney 80
Tutte Lancashire
Miller 66 Griffiths
Senior Murphy

Game Statistics

14 Goal attempts 17
4 On Target 7
7 Corners 3
11 Fouls 13
3 Yellow Cards 0
0 Red Cards 0
50 % 50

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